Military convoy control signal



y 1, 1952 J. J. WILKES 2,602,115

MILITARY CONVGY CONTROL SIGNAL Filed April 3, 1951 2 SHEETS-Sl-XEET 1 FIE .1.

'70 EJ; E

NOQMALLY CLosau Y /@4 INVENTOR.

JAY J. Waxes AT TOQNEYS July 1, 1952 J. J. WILKES MILITARY convoy CONTROL SIGNAL 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed April 5, 1951 THIIIWIHHHH Ilrlllll 1111 11111111111111, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIjIIIIIIII/IIIIIJ INVENTOR. JAY J. \hhLKES flmwz ham/Idem AT To 2N EYS Patented July 1, 1952 UNI rec STAT- ES rarest E;;o'F.i-ie-E- 7 t 7 2,692,115 MILITARY ooNvoY coNTnonsIoNAL JayJJWiikeS, Redondo Beach, Calif. Application April 3, 1951,;seriai No. 218,987

This invention relates to signaling apparatus .for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a ignaling device for. use on militaryvehicles to provide indications as to' the interval between the vehicles in a convoy, 'astodirectionof turn and other information to a vehicle behind the vehicle provided with the signaling device.

A main object of the'invention is to provide a novel and improved directional and control signalingdevice for use onvehicles, particularly on military vehicles, said device being arranged to provide various different signals, such as convoy interval signa1s,:stop signals, directional, signals and other signals, the signaling device involving relatively simple parts, being easy to install, and providing a, means of transmitting definite information from theyehicle on which the signaling deviceris mounted to a'vehicl'e behind the first-mentioned vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rearview of a motor truck provided with animprovedsignal device constructed in accordance with the present "invention;

Figure signaling device according to the :present in,- vention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of :Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view takenon line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is across-sectional detail view taken on line 5--5 of Figure3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 6-6 of Figure-l.

Referring to the drawings, the signal device comprises a generally rectangular housing ,;!i

frame of a vehicle l2, as shown in Figure l, the

housing comprisinga main body I3 having rear wardiy tapering top and bottom walls Hi and i5 integral with the arcuately curved rear wall it. as shown in Figure 3. Designated atil is the front wall of the housing, said front wall having peripheral flanges l8 adapted togrippingly engage the forward marginal portions of the walls of the housing body l3 in the manner shown in 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of a Figure 3,-a' transparent iface plate --or pan el 19 adapted to be mounted on the'rear portion'of'the lockingly engage in the channels '2! 'ments designated at -25.-and 26. lower portion of thepar-tition wall '22 is alamp socket 2'! in whichis mounted a lamp 28. Desigv.nated at 29 and 30 are respective'vertical parti- -and 35.

being interposed between-andclamped between front wall I! and the edges of the walls Of the main housingbod-y !3. As shown in Figure 3, the flanges [8 may be formed with'bea'ds 20 which formed aroundzthe ,margins'of-the walls of the housing body .l3. 1

Secured inthe housing body'l3 parallel to the front wall I! is apartition wall 22, and secured to the partition wall 22 and to the-sidewalls 23, 23 of the housing is a horizontal partition wall 'ZA'IOca-ted substantially midway between the top and bottom walls -l4 and I5 and dividing the lower'portion of thehousinginto two compart- Secured to the tion elements secured-in; the upper compartment 25 and dividing :said upper compartment into three sections or first, second and third compartments arranged in side thy-side relation. -'secured to the vertical partition wall 22 in the respective sections are the respective lamp sockets 3!, 32 and 33 in which are ."mounted the lamps 34,35 and 36*, as shown in Figure 4; The upper portion of thefac'e plate 19 is cutout to define respective 'V-shaped slots "shown .atk'il, 3'5 and 39, the slot 3:! "being located opposite the lamp 34, the'slot 38 being located opposite the center lamp 35., and'rthe slot 39ibeing located op,- posite the lamp 38. :The lower portion'bil the "front wall I! is perforated in the 'manner shown in Figures 1 and 6, 'the perforations, designated at 40, being arranged to spell outiitheyword Stop, as sh'owninFigure l, the perforated word being illuminated responsive to the 'energization of the lamp 283. Similarly, each of the 'Veshaped slots 31, 38 and 39, will beilluminated responsive to the energization of .the respective lamps iii, As. shown in Figure 1, the. V-shaped slots 37 and '38 are directed inwardly toward each other, and the -V--shaped slot :3 a points outwardly, the wide end of slot 39 being locatedadjacent-the wide end of the slot 38.

Rigidly' secured '.-to the rear .w'alli6 oil the housing body liisfa verticallT-shapedbracket member ii .having-thehead portion 32 whichis receivable in a'vertical "channel meriober '53 secured to the rear'endiof the frame of the motor; truck 12. the ichannel member "43 having inturned flange elements M, 44 engaging around the edges of 'theih'ead 42, and the flanges c'f said channel member being provided withrset screws 45 clampingly engaging the edges of the-head "42,

as shown in Figure 5. The head 42 is formed with downwardly convergent side edges, and the channel member 43 is formed with downwardly convergent side margins, whereby the flanges of said channel member define a downwardly convergent socket receiving the head 42 and securely supporting the signal housing ll.

Referring now to Figure 2, 46 and 41 designate a pair of three-position switches mounted on the steering post of the vehicle or mounted in any other suitable positions conveniently located within reach of the driver of the vehicle. Switch I 46 comprises a pivoted switch blade 48 having a contact portion 49 arranged to bridgingly engage either a first set of stationary contacts 58 and i in one rotated position of the blade 48, or a second set of contacts 52 and 53 in an opposite rotated position of said switch blade. Inits neutral position, shown in Figure 2, the switch blade is out of contact with either of the aforementioned pairs of contacts 50, 5| or 52, 53. When rotated to its first position, the contact member 49 bridges the contacts and 5|, and rotated to its second position above mentioned, the contact member 49 bridges the contacts 52 and 53.

The switch 41 comprises a pivoted switch blade 54 having a contact element 55 adapted to bridgingly engage a third set of fixed contacts 56 and 51 in a first rotated position of the switch blade,

and to bridgingly engage a fourth set of fixed contacts 58 and 59 in a second rotated position of the switch blade. In its neutral position, shown in Figure 2, the blade 54 is out of contact with the above-mentioned stationary contacts 56,

51, 58 and 59. When the switch blade 54 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, to its first rotated position, above described, the contact element 55 bridges the fixed contacts 56 and 57, and when the switch blade 54 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, to its second above-mentioned rotated position, the element 55 bridges the fixed contacts'58 and 59.

The vehicle battery is designated at 60, the negative pole of the battery being grounded, and the positive pole of the battery being connected to a Wire 6|. Switchblade 54 is connected to wire 6| by a flexible wire 62. The stop lamp 28 is connected to the wire 6| through a conventional brake-operated stop switch 63, and wires 64 and 65, as shown, the stop lamp 28 becoming energized responsive to the application of the brakes in the conventional manner.

Designated at 66 is a relay coil having one terminal grounded and 'having its other terminal connected by a wire 6! to the switch contact 51. Contact 51 is connected to contact 59 by a wire 68. Relay coil 66 is provided with the normally closed contact elements 69 and 10, the element 16 being the armature of the relay coil, and the contact 69 being the stationary contact normally engaged by said armature. Wire 6| is connected to armature I0, and contact 69 is connected by a flexible wire H to the switch blade 48.

As shown in Figure 2, one terminal of each of the lamps 34, 35, 36 and 28 is grounded. The ungrounded terminal of lamp 34 is connected by a wire 12 to stationary contact 5! of switch 46. The ungrounded terminal of lamp 35 is connected by a wire 13 to the contact 50. Contact 52 is connectedby a wire 14 to wire 13, and contact 53 is connected by a wire 15 to a wire 16 connecting contact 58 of switch 41 to the ungrounded terminal of lamp 36. The contact 56 of switch 4'! is connected by a wire 11 to the wire 14.

The switch 41 is employed to provide direction signals by selectively energizing either the lamp 35, to indicate a left turn, or the lamp 36, to indicate a right turn. When the blade 54 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, to bridge the contacts 56 and 51, an energizing circuit is established for lamp 35 comprising battery 68, wire 6|, wire 62, contact element 55, contact 56, wire I1, wire 14, wire 13, the filament of lamp 35, and ground. 'When the blade 54 is rotated counterclockwise, to a position wherein the element 55 bridges the contacts 58 and 59, an energizing circuit for the lamp 36 is provided comprising battery '60, wire 6|, wire 62, contact element 55, contact 58, wire 16, the filament of lamp 36, and ground. Lamp 35 and lamp 38 may therefore be selectively energized by rotating the switch blade 54 either in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction, as above described. It will be noted that in either of the rotated positions of blade 54, the solenoid coil 66 becomes energized by the engagement of the contact element 55 with either of the contacts 51 or 59, the contact element 55 being connected to the positive pole of the battery 60. This, of course, retracts the armature l6 and disengages it from contact 69. It will therefore be apparent that when the switch blade 54 is operated to either of its above-described rotated positions, the circuit to the switch blade 48 is opened by the opening of the contacts 69 and 16 of the relay coil 66.

Assuming the switch blade 54 to be in its neutral position, shown in Figure 2, the operation of the switch is as follows: When the switch blade 48 is rotated in'a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, to bring the contact element 49 into bridging engagement with the contacts 50 and 51, the lamps 34 and 35 simultaneously become energized. The energizing circuit for the lamp 34 comprises the battery 60, the wire 61, the armature 10, the contact 69, the wire IL-the contact element 5i, the wire 12, the filament of lamp 34, and ground. The energizing circuit for the lamp 35 comprises the battery 60, the Wire 6!, armature 10, contact 69, wire 1|, contact element 49, contact 50, wire 13, the filament of lamp 35, and ground. When the lamps 34 and 35 are simultaneously energized, the V- shaped slots 31 and 38 become illuminated, providing a Close-up signal. This notifies the driver of the vehicle immediately to the rear of the signaling vehicle to shorten the spacing between the two vehicles.

Lamps 35 and 36 are energized simultaneously when the Switchblade 48 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, to bring the contact element 49 into bridging contact with contact elements 52 and 53. The energizing circuit for lamp 35 comprises battery 60, wire 8|, armature 10, contact 69, wire 1 I, contact element 49, contact 52, wire 14, wire 13, the filament of lamp 35, and ground. The energizing circuit for lamp 36 comprises battery 66, wire 6!, armature 10, contact 59, wire H, contact element 49, contact 53, wire 15, wire 16, the filament of lamp 36, and ground. The simultaneous energization of lamps 35 and 36 causes the slots 38 and 39 to be simultaneously illuminated, providing the Openup signal, indicating to the driver to the rear of the signaling vehicle that the spacing between the vehicles is to be increased.

As above explained, when the switch 4! is operated to give a directional signal, the circuits associated with the switch 46 are opened by the energization of relay coil 66, whereby no other signals may be given at the same time as the directional signals are given, and thereby avoiding confusion between signals. It will be further noted that in order to give the "Close-up or "Open-up signals, the switch blade 54 of the switch 4'! must be in the neutral position.

Suitable indicator lamps may be connected in parallel with the respective lamps 35 and mounted on the vehicle dashboard to indicate the energization of any of said lamps, as for example, a signal lamp 78 which is shown connected between the wire 13 and ground, and which becomes energized simultaneously with the energization of the lamp 35. Similar signal lamps may be connected in parallel with the other lamps 34, 36 and 28, the signal lamps being mounted on the vehicle dashboard to indicate the energization of their associated indicators.

The switches 46 and 41 may be similar to those conventionally employed in private automobiles for the purpose of indicating turns. The switches 46 and 41 are preferably mounted on each side of the steering column of the motor truck just below the steering wheel with the operating lever of the lamp available to the fingers of the driver.

If so desired, suitable flasher units may be incorporated in the circuits of the respective lamps 34, 35 and 35, to provide a blinking effect when the lamps are illuminated, so as to attract the attention of the driver in the following vehicle.

by side relation and open at their fronts, a face plate covering the open fronts of said compartments and bearing first second and third V- shaped slots arranged in horizontal spaced aligned relation, said first second and third slots overlying said first second and third compartments respectively, the first and second slots pointing toward each other and the second and third slots pointing away from each other, an electric lamp in each of said first second and third compartments, 9. first electric circuit including a first set of stationary contacts and the lamps in the first and second compartments, a second set of stationary contacts and the lamps in the second and third compartments, and a first switch arm in said circuit and movable in one direction into engagement with said first set of contacts for simultaneously illuminating the lamps in said first and second compartments and movable in the opposite direction into engagement with said second set of contacts for simultaneously illuminating the lamps in said second and third compartments, and a second electric circuit including a relay having normally closed contacts in series w th said first circuit, said second circuit including a third set of stationary contacts and the lamp in the second compartment andthe relay, a fourth set of stationary contacts and the lamp in the third compartment and the relay, and a second switch arm movable in one direction into engagement with said third set of contacts for illuminating the lamp in said second compartment and movable in the opposite direction into engagement with said fourth set of contacts for illuminating the lamp in said third compartment.

JAY J.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,325,831. Carr et a1 Dec. 23, 1919 1,502,370 Bullard July 22, 1924 1,688,803 Dailey et al Oct. 23, 1928 2,330,561 Dietrich Sept. 28, 1943 

